Spike!

I've been trying to get some pics lately that show off one of my favorite traits of my little man- his adorable peach fuzz spikey hair! Today while Sister was napping (Hallelujah!!!), I took a few quick shots! (BTW- I am really proud of myself for 3 posts in one week! I guess not having the pressure to do a photo a day has paid off!)

Splish Splash!

I don't know who was most excited- Bailey, Max, or me?!?!?! My MIL gave us this great bath seat so now brother gets to bathe in the big tub with Sissy! Both of our kiddos LOVE the water and could play for hours on end in the tub! Can't wait for lake season this summer!!!!!!!

Happy 5 Months Little Max!

I can't believe my sweet little man is 5 months old!!! If you didn't keep up with my 365 blog (which I am not doing this year so I'll be better at updating this one), then you probably missed out on watching Max grow! Sorry to all that my last post was when Max turned 2 months old!!!

Time has flown by and Max gets more fun by the minute! He wasn't too keen on the basket photo shoot this month because he really doesn't appreciate being confined in that thing anymore. So this mini shoot ended with him eating the blanket, kicking the basket so hard it almost tumped over, and projectile vomiting all over the place (more on that subject later)!

Here's a little bit about our little man!

Big Sister=Big Helper: Bailey has really become a good helper lately! She gets so excited about every new little thing that Max does and constantly cheers him on. As these two pictures show, she's even learned how to help Mommy a little bit with diaper changes and feeding Max his cereal.

Max continues to be a phenomenal sleeper (thank you Babywise!!!) and I am glad to see this happy little face every morning when he wakes up!

Max finally discoverd his toes and they now provide hours of enjoyment! Unfortunately his legs are so short that he can't get them in his mouth!!!

Max can sit by himself now! Here's the pic from his very first attempt (he's gotten much better, but we're still not leaving him unattended).

We began rice cereal last month hoping to decrease the spitup. It didn't help with that, but Max loves it! We had a rough month with multiple visits to the pediatrician and two visits to Sutton Childrens to help Max. He's always been a big boy and we were always amazed at how much weight he would gain at each monthly checkup. So we knew something was up when, at his 4 month checkup, he hadn't gained much. Then he started losing weight. We started out thinking it was reflux and he was put on some meds that, unfortunately, didn't help. Then, with more projectile spitup (I'm talking like 50 times a day! Can you say ENDLESS LAUNDRY!?!?!), constant fussiness, and more weight loss, we went to Suttons for an upper GI scan and met with a pediatric surgeon. They're still thinking it's reflux and put him on some stronger meds. We have a followup appointment this week so we'll see where we stand.

Max is 2 Months Old!!!

This month has been such a fun one for us and Max! My chunky monkey weighs 11 pounds 2 ounces and is 23 inches long! He's started to smile and laugh with a purpose now, and gets so excited when you play with him. He's gotten even stronger, thanks to his LOVE of tummy time and can hold his head up while on his tummy for a long time. He's also trying really hard to roll over and has done it a few times already (but not consistently). He's a good sleeper (although Mommy wishes her hungry boy would sleep through the night more often) and is also super-alert when he's awake. His favorite toy is still his playmat, but now he's becoming aware of all of the toys on it and trys to grab at them. Max has had lots of fun outings this month. But I'm sure his favorite was his first Louisiana Tech football game!!!

Max's First Month

So I'm a little behind! But that's how it goes as a mom of two!

At one month old, Max weighs 9 pounds, 2 ounces and is 21 1/2 inches long. He definitely doesn't have an eating problem since he's growing like a weed! He's a very happy baby and loves to play on his playmat and watch his sister. I can already tell he simply idolizes her! And speaking of Bailey, Max is really starting to look a lot more like her when she was his age. Max is very easy-going and has started smiling, which melts my heart! He's also really strong and is very good at holding and lifting his little head up. Here's some pics since we've come home from the hospital!

Worth the Wait

Max William Doyal has arrived!!!

Like sister, like brother! At 37 weeks, I knew Max's arrival would be soon, but just wasn’t quite sure when. But just like Sister, Max decided to show up on the weekend of the 37th week. The past few days had been especially hard on me, but the evening of Saturday, August 20, I knew without a doubt that it was time. Good thing that David and I were packed and prepared this time. We dropped Big Sis off with Grandy and Popaw and hurried to the hospital. My contractions started at 5 minutes apart, and by the time we got to the hospital, they were 3 to 4 minutes apart. The nurses said I was only dilated 1 ½ centimeters, but my water was ready to break any minute and Max was coming fast. I was really hoping to wait one more day so that my doctor, Dr. Waltman, could deliver Max. But I told everyone that, at this point, I'd take anyone off the street corner!!! I also had to forgo pain medication because of the impending C-section and was in excruciating pain.

The entire family arrived, including Bailey who was thoroughly excited to be up past her bedtime! At 10:30 the anesthesiologist arrived, and so did Dr. Darrell Sandifer and his wife, nurse practitioner Aimee Smiley. It was a whole different experience this time since I was actually awake during the surgery. Daddy was ready with the camera and the doctors and nurses began. A few minutes later, at 10:49 PM we heard little Max's first cry- and what a loud cry it was! Aimee told us how beautiful he was, but we already knew that! As they took Max to get checked out, Daddy followed close behind to document. When they told us that he was 7 pounds, I was confused. What happened to the enormous baby I was expecting??? Then they measured his length to be 21 inches, and we knew THAT was what I had been feeling those past few months! After a quick hug from me, Dad took Max out to meet the rest of the family. They were all ecstatic! Big Sister Bailey was especially excited and liked watching the baby through the nursery windows.

I had a much easier recovery this time, and enjoyed all of the friends and family who came to meet Max in the hospital. Bailey came to officially meet Brother and was very impressed that he came bearing Big Sister gifts for her. She called him “Santa Baby!” David and I know that, like all children, Max is a miracle from God. But, because of all of the complications with this pregnancy, we know that God was especially watching out for little Max! We are now so happy that our family is complete!

Meeting Mommy and Daddy (glad I remember it this time around!)

7 pounds, 21 inches

Sweet boy

Getting some love from Daddy!

First photo as a family of four!

WOW! I'm finally a Big Sister!

Checking out Baby Brother

37 Weeks!!!

37 weeks pregnant! I never thought I would make it this far!!!

If you never heard the story, my sweet SILs planned a baby shower for me on Saturday, April 5 at the Glenwood Tearoom. I attended the shower in all my ENORMOUS glory and then went into labor that night!!! (Bailey was due on April 25) That's why when my sweet friends called a few weeks ago and asked about throwing me a baby shower I said, let's do a Sip n See or something afterwards because I don't have very good luck with baby showers!

Here is a picture of me when I was 37 weeks with Bailey and in the same shirt (and way too-tight pants) with Max.